Psalm 35:15

Verse 15. In mine adversity they rejoiced. Now, as men often relent at seeing the misfortunes of their enemies, so that they cease to hate or persecute those who are already miserably wretched, it was an evidence of the very cruel and fierce spirit by which David's former friends were actuated against him, when, upon seeing him cast down and afflicted, they were rather by this incited furiously and insolently to assail him. John Calvin.

Verse 15. The abjects. The very abjects (Prayer Book Version). The Hebrew word Nechim, thus translated, comes from a verb signifying to be smitten. Hence, in the Septuagint it is rendered scourges. But it may also be rendered, with Jerome, smiters, and may mean smiting with the tongue. Compare Jeremiah 18:18 . Another of its meanings is, according to Buxtorf, the wry legged, the lame; and so it is used in 2 Samuel 4:4 9:3 whence the epithet of Necho was given to one of the Pharaohs who halted in his gait. Our translators seem to have understood the word in this last sense, as a term of contempt. Daniel Cresswell.

Verse 15. David, having showed how compassionate he was to his enemies in their affliction Psalms 35:14 , he presently shows Psalms 35:15 , how uncompassionate, or barbarously cruel rather, his enemies were to him in his. Abjects are vile persons, men smitten in their estates and credits; yea, often as slaves or ill servants smitten with cudgels or whips. So a learned translator renders the Psalm, The smitten gathered against me; that is, vile men who deserve to be beaten and cudgelled. Joseph Caryl.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 15. The shameful conspiracy of men against our Lord Jesus at his passion.